E-Newsletter: #LetsTalk

Statement

This has been a challenging week for the President, Congress and America. As I have expressed on several occasions, I was optimistic that leaders from both sides would come to the table and work out our differences to avoid a partial government shutdown. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

This week, House Republicans passed small funding measures that would re-open important parts of our government while allowing the House, Senate and the President time to work out our differences. However, instead of allowing the Senate to take-up these measures, Sen. Reid and President Obama refused to act.

Instead of joining us to restore funding for services like the Women Infant and Children (WIC) food program, re-open our national parks and monuments and take care of our veterans and reservists, the President chose to put barricades in front of open air monuments making it difficult for our World War II veterans to visit their Memorial. One news report quoted a Park Service Ranger saying, "we've been told to make life as difficult for people as we can."

This is petty. The President's actions show us that he cares more about politics than the American people. One of his aides was widely quoted this week saying, "We are winning…It doesn't really matter to us" how long the shutdown lasts "because what matters is the end result."

So long as this is their attitude, the American people lose.

House Republicans are taking a reasonable stand and asking simply for fairness. We are asking Sen. Reid and the President to do three things:

Fund the government.

The President and his Administration should be included in Obamacare. If his healthcare reform is good enough for Congress and the American people, it should be good enough for him, his family and his Administration.

The President gave big business a one year deferment from joining Obamacare and being subjected to the Obamacare penalty tax if they don't join. We requested that hardworking American families receive the same special treatment as these corporations.

I am the tenth of eleven children. Growing up in a big, diverse family taught me that to resolve our differences we have to talk to each other -- the government is no different. The President has refused to talk or negotiate with the House of Representatives. We have made a full faith effort to produce reasonable offers while still holding true to the asks of our constituents. It is past time for the Senate and the President to join us at the table, work out our differences and re-open our government.

I will do my best to keep you posted on our progress and, as always, make sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

Have a good week,

Sean

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